Scottish Football: A no-win situation

David McKinney
Monday 24 January 1994 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

SCOTTISH football responded to a kind European Championship draw by producing one of the most uninspired afternoons the Premier Division has ever seen. For the first time every game on the card finished in a draw with three remaining goalless, writes David McKinney.

While Rangers drew 0-0 with the joint leaders, Aberdeen, at Pittodrie on Saturday, Celtic also drew a blank against Dundee United at Celtic Park. Motherwell, in fourth, could go top if they win their two outstanding matches, following Saturday's goalless affair with Partick. They meet Raith Rovers on Tuesday.

Nevertheless, not even an uninspired Saturday on the field could dampen the feeling that the national side have been given an invitation to qualify for the European Championships in England in 1996, a tournament they are understandably desperate to compete in.

Today Craig Brown, the national manager, will look to the future when he includes Don Hutchison, the Liverpool midfielder, in his squad for the B international against Wales on 2 February, a game which could help some of the younger players make the transition from the Under-21 side which Brown supervised as assistant to Andy Roxburgh.

Hutchison's inclusion was possible because he has become an assimilated player with Liverpool for European matches, allowing Graeme Souness to free him for internationals without having him branded a foreign player by Uefa.

Brown has been given an extra boost with the news of Richard Gough's willingness to return to the international arena after the Scottish Football Association's exoneration of him following comments made about Roxburgh in his recently published book, Field of Dreams.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in